The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word PALISADE
P
A
L
I
S
A
D
E
More clues leading to the result PALISADE
- One unhappy to be kept inside light fence
- Friend with ideas altered fence of stakes
- Royal adviser on radio raised stakes
- Fence one with blue and white exterior
- Muslim unhappy in gym for fencing
- Friend with new ideas for making a defence work
- Defence looking sickly, keeping one depressed
- Reportedly, equerry is a fence
- Friend’s confronting baddies regularly – and paling
- Ally that is holding down defensive barrier
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Defence" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case defence = palisade.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PALISADE mean?
PALISADE noun- A long, strong stake, one end of which is set firmly in the ground, and the other sharpened.
- A wall of wooden stakes, used as a defensive barrier.
- A line of cliffs, especially one showing basaltic columns.
- An even row of cells. e.g.: palisade mesophyll cells.
- (usually in the passive) To equip with a palisade.